Air Force Instruction 91-202

Air Force Instruction 91-202
Name	Air Force Instruction 91-202
Abbreviation	AFI 91-202
Type	Instruction
Issued by	United States Air Force
Subject	Occupational safety, ground safety, mishap prevention

Air Force Instruction 91-202 is a United States Air Force directive that codifies occupational safety and mishap prevention policies for aviation, ground operations, and force protection across United States Air Force organizations. It establishes standards for hazard identification, risk management, mishap investigation, and reporting to reduce losses in personnel, materiel, and operations. The instruction integrates with broader Department of Defense and interagency frameworks to align North Atlantic Treaty Organization partners, Department of Defense components, and allied force safety practices.

Overview

AFI 91-202 sets baseline requirements for hazard mitigation, mishap prevention, and safety program management for units such as Air Combat Command, Air Mobility Command, Pacific Air Forces, and United States Air Forces in Europe – Air Forces Africa. It interfaces with policies from Occupational Safety and Health Administration, Federal Aviation Administration, and international standards embodied by International Civil Aviation Organization. The instruction guides commanders, safety officers, and staff to implement Risk Management (military), mishap classification, and corrective action programs consistent with joint force directives and service-level doctrine.

Scope and Applicability

The instruction applies to Active Duty, United States Air Force Reserve Command, Air National Guard, civilian employees, and contractor personnel supporting USAF missions at installations such as Andersen Air Force Base, Ramstein Air Base, and Nellis Air Force Base. It covers operations across domains including airfields, maintenance depots like Ogden Air Logistics Complex, munitions storage facilities, and expeditionary environments encountered during campaigns such as Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom. The AFI delineates applicability where statutory authorities overlap with other instruments like the Uniform Code of Military Justice and federal occupational statutes.

Key Provisions and Requirements

AFI 91-202 prescribes requirements for hazard reporting, mishap notification timelines, and risk assessment tools used by entities such as Air Education and Training Command and Air Force Materiel Command. It defines mishap severity categories and thresholds that trigger investigative boards, linking procedures to Air Force Inspector General inquiries and safety councils. The instruction mandates use of data systems that interoperate with databases administered by Defense Logistics Agency and analytical frameworks like those developed by National Transportation Safety Board investigators for aviation mishaps. It also specifies personal protective equipment standards, grounding to Occupational Safety and Health Administration guidance, and maintenance task risk mitigation used at facilities such as Tinker Air Force Base.

Responsibilities and Roles

Commanders at base and wing levels, including leaders in Pacific Air Forces and Air Force Special Operations Command, hold primary responsibility for implementing the instruction. Safety professionals, aeromedical officers, and civil engineers coordinate hazard abatement and reporting. Legal advisors reference precedents from United States v. Nixon-era jurisprudence when aligning disclosure with investigative needs, while contracting officers integrate safety clauses mirrored in Federal Acquisition Regulation provisions for contractor performance. The instruction outlines the roles of specialized bodies like the Air Force Safety Center and safety investigation panels that may liaise with entities such as the National Transportation Safety Board or Federal Bureau of Investigation when criminal or public-interest issues arise.

Training and Compliance

Mandatory safety training modules link to professional development pipelines in Air University and technical schools such as those at Sheppard Air Force Base. The AFI requires recurring qualifications for occupational specialties, proficiency checks for aircrew trained at US Air Force Test Pilot School, and certification processes for maintenance technicians aligned with standards from Society of Automotive Engineers and aviation industry bodies. Compliance is measured via internal audits, command-directed reviews, and metrics tracked with tools comparable to those used by Defense Contract Management Agency for contractor oversight.

Enforcement, Inspections, and Penalties

Inspection regimes draw on procedures from the Air Force Inspection System and coordinate with Inspector General of the Department of the Air Force processes. Violations of AFI standards can produce administrative actions, nonjudicial punishment under the Uniform Code of Military Justice, or contract remedies in coordination with Department of Justice when warranted. Enforcement may include corrective action plans reviewed by safety review boards and escalation to higher echelons such as Secretary of the Air Force (Civilian) when systemic risks persist.

History and Revisions

The instruction evolved in response to mishaps and doctrinal developments across conflicts including Vietnam War and post-9/11 operations like Operation Iraqi Freedom, leading to iterations that incorporated lessons from investigations by bodies such as the National Transportation Safety Board and internal reports by the Air Force Safety Center. Revisions have been informed by interservice harmonization efforts with United States Navy and United States Army safety programs, as well as changes in statutory and regulatory frameworks influenced by incidents that prompted congressional oversight from committees such as the United States House Committee on Armed Services.

Category:United States Air Force instructions